Survey: A Third of Americans Think BDS Justified

From daily reports of gains and setbacks in the BDS (boycott, disinvest, sanction) movement it is hard to assess its overall impact, but a new survey indicates that it has had a significant effect on public opinion in the United States and Britain.

One-third of Americans believe that a boycott of Israel is justified and legitimate, according to an Ipsos survey carried out in advance of a United Nations conference on Tuesday, Globes reported.

The survey of 1,100 people in the United States found that 33 percent think that the boycott is acceptable; a similar survey in the U.K. showed 40 percent thought so.

However, a broad majority still held the BDS movement to be anti-Semitic: 62 percent in the United States and 50 percent in the U.K.

“We have no ally more important than the U.S. and no closer friends that the U.S. community in all its variety,” Israel ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said, but added, “The students and young people of today are, however, less committed to the special tie between the two countries than were previous generations.”

Israel ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon will hold a conference at the U.N. entitled “Building Bridges, Not Boycotts.” Over 1,500 students, representatives of anti-BDS organizations, American Jewish organizations, lawyers and opinion makers are set to participate.

“There is no doubt that the BDS movement is not letting up on its attempt to harm Israel. Together with our partners, we shall continue to stand firm in the face of any threat, and we shall win,” Danon said.